Chinese companies are rapidly advancing in humanoid robotics, targeting applications from entertainment to retail and smart manufacturing, though high costs and technical challenges remain.

Shanghai-based Agibot, backed by Tencent, BYD, and Baidu, has produced 5,000 humanoid robots since 2023 and aims to develop robots with “general intelligence” capable of multiple tasks, including dancing, factory work, and potentially household chores.

Beijing-based Galbot is taking a more focused approach, prioritizing retail and industrial manufacturing robots and deploying them in stores across major cities.

Both companies, along with others like Unitree and UBTech, are collaborating with Nvidia to enhance AI capabilities in robots, while global competitors include Tesla’s Optimus and Boston Dynamics, Kr Asia has reported.

Analysts note the market is enormous but caution that technical hurdles—like dexterous hands, heat dissipation, and safe interaction with humans—must be overcome before humanoid robots become widely adopted.